Blow-off valve.



SA, KAHN. BLOW APPLICATION FILED MAR. I3. l9l5.

-GFF VALVE.

Patented Dee. 28, 1915.

WITNESSES Anomvfys SAMUEL Kann, or NEWARK, NEW JERSEY;

BLOW-OEE VALVE.l

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, SAMUEL KAHN, a citi- Zen of the United States, and aresident of Newark, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey,fhaveinvented a new and Improved Blow-Off Valve, of which the fol'- lowing isa full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to devices for use in connection with pneumatictires or other compressed air containers and has particular reference tomeans for charging such containers with apredetermined amount orpressure of air.

More definitely stated, among the objects of the'invention is to providea valve struc-v ture of a compound nature embodying the characteristicsof the now well known check valvevto retain the air within the tube andhaving also an auxiliary valve mechanism permitting any excess pressureover the predetermined degree to be discharged or dissipated while thefirst mentioned check valve becomes seated, retaining the precisedesired amount of pressure within the tube.

Another object of the invention is to provide a peculiar and efficientmeans for adjusting the auxiliary valve to insure its operation withinpredetermined maximum and minimum limits.

A further object of the invention 'is to utilize the facilities abovementioned in connectionwith means for testing the degree of pressurewithin the tube.

A still further object of the invention is to improve the facilities fordetachably connecting the testing device to a fixed spud or nipple.

The foregoing and many other objects of the invention will hereinafterbe more fully described and claimed and illustrated in the drawingsforming a part of this specification in which like characters ofreference ine dicate corresponding parts in all the views,

and in which- Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view' of one form of myimprovement; Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the Lipper portion' of thenipple shell looking toward the right in Fig. '1; Fig. 3 is a transversesectional view on the line 3-'3 of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a similar viewonthe line 4 4 but on a scale smaller than Fig. l; Fig. 5 is a viewsimilar .to Fig, 1, parts being in elevation, and indicating slightmodifications in detail; Fig. (i is a view corresponding to Fig.- 2 buttaken as looking toward the right in Fig. 5; Figi 7 is Specification ofLetters Patent.

a transverse section on the line 7-7 of'Fig.

lPatented Dec.. @,llil

Application filed March 13, 1915A Serial No. 14,197.

5; and Figs. S and 9 are vertical sectional f details of modified formsof the invention described below.

The several parts of this devicemayc'fb'e made of any suitablematerials, and the relative sizes and proportions, as well as thegeneral design of the mechanism, may be varied to a considerable extentwithout de. parting from the spirit ofthe invention hereinafter morefully set forth and claimed.

I wish it to be understood furthermore that the term tire as used hereinis to be interpreted as typical of any chamber or other container whichmay be charged with com pressed air or the like; also the terms verticaland horizontal 7 which may be ernployed in the description of thedrawings attached hereto are to be interpreted as being relative onlyand not in a limiting sense in View of the fact that the parts are alloperative irrespective of 'the position thereof with respect to thevertical.

Referring again to Fig. 1, I show at 10 a fragment of apneumatic tire towhich is secured a shank 11 constituting the fixed portion of the valvenipple. Said shank has a groove 12 into which the tire 10 ex tendsbetween a head 13 on one side and a lock nut 14 on the other side andturned down upon the threadedportion 15 of the shank. A collar 1G isheld against the lock nut by means of another nut 17 and bears at itsperiphery against the rim 18. The rim and felly 19 are bored as usual toaccommodate the valve mechanism.

.The shank 11 is bored at 2O and has secured rigidly to its outer end atubular shell A21.

The enlarged bore of the shell is formed at itslower end with screwthreads 22 and above the threadsl it is tapered upwardly, the smoothtapered surface cooperating with the tapered extreme upper end 23 of themain shank. solutely -airtight joint and one which is strong and rigid.The exterior surface of the shell in which the taper is formed is screwthreaded, as shown at 24, terminating in a shoulder 25. A lock nut 26 ofpeculiar construction cooperates with the screw threads 24 to lock theshank and shell as a` unit to the rim and felly. This lock nut has acavity 27 having internal cam surfaces 28.

This connection makes an abthrough spaces 31, and thenby giving the dustcap approximately a -quarter turn, the

. lugs 29 interlock with the cam surfaces 28 and beneath the overhanginglips 32 of the lock nut 26. At 33 l show a' rubber gasket ooperatingwith a metal washer 34 between the .dust cap base and the main portionof the lock nut to positively exclude moisture from the valve mechanism.

Adjacent the shoulder 25 is a reduced shoulder portion 35 having anexternal screw closing the sp'aceinto which the ports 47,

4ment of a pressure device or the like.

tween the threaded endof the nipple andnt ehi.; shoulder 35 the outersurface of the nipple* is smooth and cylindrical, and upon the same isslidably fitted a'sleeve 40. 'A bayonet slot 'the sleeve 40 through saidslot.

thread for the attachment of a cap 36 which will be termed hereinafterair cap 7 to distinguish it from other caps. The air cap at itsclosedouterend is fitted with a` gasket 37 held in an undercut socket bymeans of a stud 38 arranged in the axis Iof the capyand having'a shallowcavity in its upper end. The air cap 36 constitutes'an airtight closurefor the valve shank and shell and is removed from the shoulder 35 whenthe valve is to be inspected or the tire is to be recharged.

The upper end of the shell adjacent and above the shoulder 35 is stillfurther reduced `forming av cylindrical nipple 39 having its extremeupper end threaded either internally or Yexternally or both for theattach- Be- 41'4 is formed in one wallof the nipple and a pin 42 extendsthrough the lower end of The pin. therefore, limits the extent ofmovement,

up or down, 'of the -sleeve along the nipple. Y

Within the tapered cavity formed in the lower portion of the shell 21 issnugly seated `a valve seat 43 tapered to correspond to the aforesaidtaper and provided with a plurality of vertical parallel ports 44 shownherein as eight in number. These ports are arranged with their upper`ends in .a circle and communicating in the same annular space between apair of -concentric ridges 45'- against which an upwardly movableblowoff valve 46 is normally seated. This valve 46 includes arubber orsimilar packing 47 adapted t'o bear against the ridges 45 and threadedupon the extreme upper end of the' stem 49 prior to assembling thedevice.

Among the uses of this nut 53 may be noted' that of determining theproper strength of the spring 50 for use in connection with the valve ofa predetermined strength or registry; The aforesaid pin 42 is tappedinto the head 51 and hence causes the movement of the head downwardlyywith the sleeve 40,

thereby placing the spring 50 under greater tension correspondingto `thevertical length of the bayonet slot 41. When the sleeve 40 is thusdepressed, it` may be locked in the lower position by giving -it aslight rotation, bringing the pin 42 into the'angular portion of theslot.

The threaded upper end of the stem 49 projects into a recess 54 at theupper end of the nipple 39T anda nut 55 secured thereto forms a seat orcup in which is supported' the lower end of a light spring 56surrounding the stem 57 of the check valve 58. The upper end of thespring 56 is heldin place .by means of a cap 58 within the nipple.

Said cap is provided with a plurality of ports 59 extending upwardlytherethrough and diver-ging from points close to the stem 57. Said stem57 extends freely through a central bore 60 extending through the stem49 of the blow-olf valve 46. The check valve 58 includes` a gasket 61held normallyseated lby virtue of the spring 56 against a nozzle. 62formed on the lower surface of a plug 63.

The plug and nozzle have a central bore 60 corresponding to and aliningwith the stem bore 60 and leading into a distributer chamber 64 andcommunicating with the lower ends of all ofthe ports 44. The plug 63 hasa tapered periphery and is fitted snugly airtight into the taper of theshell 21 against the valve seat 43.

The operation of the device thus far described may be briefly stated asfollows: Upon removal of the dust cap 30 and the air cap 36, air supplyconnection may be made with the threaded end of the nipple 39 in' anyconvenient manner such, for instance,

as the flexible tube leading from an airpuinp or' reservoir (not shown).Air under pressure may then be admitted downwardly through the nipple,such air passing eitherV through or around the cap 58 andthrough thebores 60 and 60. This air pressure unioo seats the check valve 58downwardly against the force ofthe spring 56, allowingr the air to enterthe tire 10. This action corresponds, generally speaking, to the usualaction of a tire nipple check valve. With the force of the spring 50adjusted to correspond to the predetermined desired internal pressurefor the tire, when 'such pressure is f reached by the action of the airpump or air pressure supply means, no greater pressure of air can bemade in the tire vfor the reason that the excess pressure over the.predeter- -mined requiredamount or degree will react upwardly throughthe ports 44 and unseat the blow-oil' valve 46 yand be discharged toweasel.

- formed radially through the lower end of the nipple. Since the excesspressure becomes thus dissipated through the vents 65,

'the cheek valve 58 will promptly close due to suction and the springl,and the blows off valve 46 will remain open and functional so long asthe inwardly directed air pressure continues. The operator, uponhearingthe hiss of the escaping'air, will be apprised that the required degreeof pressure within the tire is reached.

By way of illustration it may be assumed that the spring 50 is sodesigned that when the head 51 is adjusted as shown in Figs. l and 2,the excess air will blow oif when an internal pressure of seventy poundsper square inch is reached, and, when the sleeve 40 is pushed downwardlyto lock the pin 42 in the angular portion `of the slot 4l, .the pressurerequired to unseat the valve will be increased to eighty pounds.'Assuming then, that the tire is to be infiated to eighty pounds, thesleeveV 40 will be forced downwardly and locked as 'just stated whilethe air is being introduced. lVhen the eighty poundspressure is reachedin the tire, the excess pressure will be dissipated and the check valvewill be closed, retaining within the tire the precise pressure required.In

this connection it will be noted that while an ordinary safety orblow-oit valve for the release of excess pressure after being unseatedsubiects the pressure ii'uid to an increased eiiiective area, theordinary result is that the internal pressure will be lowered to aconsiderable extent. say tive or ten pounds, below the required pressureor the point at which the blow-oli' takes place.v ln this invention,however, the check valve seating promptly at the moment the blow-offvalve becomes functional, there is no possibility for the slightestlowering of the internal pressure below the point desired or to which itis adjusted or designed.

In the ordinary operation of pneumatic tires a certain range ofpressures is provided Ifor, and assuming that such range, used in thesame illustration as given above, is of I from seventy to eighty poundsand the operator wishes to' test his tireto see whether atleast'\seventy pounds of pressure exists` all he needs to do to makesuch testat any time is to remove the dust cap and -air cap from abouttlie-nipple. and with the sleeve 40 andV pin 42 adiusted upwardly, asshown in Figs. l and 2, he .may apply the air cap bringing the stud 3Swith its cavity bearing upon the cap 58 and with the gasket 37 cominginto contact with the end of the nipple sealing the nipple against thedischarge of air there- `trom. lf, now, the operator observes the hissof the discharge of air through the vents 65, he will know immediatelythat the inteinal pressure is above the minimum prea ,l i, i llldetermined degree of seventy pounds and y hence satisfactory. If,howevergthe unseat' that the`internal pressure has fallen' below therequired minimum of seventy. pounds and that the tire requiresre-inflation to bring 'it up again to the required point. To prevent airfrompassing downwardly from the iecess'-laround the stem 49, provide apacking washer 66 locked in place bythe nut 55. The ports 59 formedthrough the cap 5 8 registering with the upper end of the bore 60prevent the cap from sealing the upper end of the bore. The combinedarea of the ports -l-l is preferably approximately the same as that ofthe bore 60, and itthe ports are formed too large, one or more of themmay be plugged, i'l desired, to properly proportion the `relative areasin any particular case.

That form of vthe invention shown in Fig. 5 is substantially the same asthat already described with respect to the main and blowoii' valves 58and 46 and the parts which control their operation. This form of thedevice, however, typifies its use as a detached part or structurecapable of l-ieingicarried in ones pocket or tool box as a featureseparate from the tire nipple. 4The device of Fig. 5, however,'isadapted to be. applied to any standard nipple or that portioncorrespond- -ing to the nipple 39 with a resulting operationsubstantially similar to thatalrcady set forth in detail.. Considering,then, for the purposes of this explanation, the nipple 2li) asexemplitying any standard tire nipple with or without the check valve 5Swithin the same,the shell 21 may be quickly secured to the nipple 39,with the rim or end ofthe nipple abutted snugly against a washer 67.

by means of the quickattachingand detaching means shown in Figs. 5 and7, the saine including a coupling body 68 in which are slidably tted apair of radially movable blocks 69 having their inner ends threaded at70 to correspond to the threads onA the.,y

nipple. rllhe coupling body GSis surrouiidi ed by a tliimble l'securedtothe body by` means 'of a pin and slot connection 72, `the ,iis

lower edge of the tliimble bearing inwardly against the beveled outerends 73 of the blocks when the tliimble is forced down-A :ik

wardly. Vhen the tliimble is elevated, however, the blocks are free toslide apart far enough for the nipple 39 to slip freely upward intoengagement with the washer G7. The radialmovement of the blocks,however.

Vis limited in both directions by means of pins T-l carried by theblocks and movable in radial slots 75 formed in the lower end,.fr

of the body 68. To apply the device, therefore, to a standard nipple,the tliimble 71 being elevated, the body and shell tapped I l thereinare pushed directly 'upon the nipple,

bringing the end thereof against the Washer 67. The thimble then is'forced directly downwardly, 'causing the blocks to move inwardly intothreaded engagement with the nipple threads, making a substantiallyairtight-connection, but byl giving the device as -a Whole aslightrotation if necessary, the connection -is -renderedabsolutely airtight1a without a moments loss of time and the connection is secure so longas the thimble remains inits depressed position. To remove the couplingor device, therefore, all that 1s necessary is to simply pull up on thethimble with ones fingers', and such movement bedevice since the holdbetween the blocksand ingcontinuedwill carry with it the entire `thenipple ceases by reason of the outward 4movement ofthe blocks.

The body.68 carries a stud 38 which serves to unseat any checkl valvecarried within the nipple to w-hieh the devieemay beapplied as abovedescribed, andfafter' the device is attached it may be'used as ablowuffcharging device for the tire or as atestlng'device'in @substantially thesame ways y :hat lare` described above in connection with Fig. 1. Inthis form of the invention the pin 42 extends through a slotv 41 formedthrough the shell and secured in the.

' headv 5l as above described, but the outer end of the pin is carriedby a sleeve 40a 135' [sleeve 40".

,which is actuated'l downwardly toincrease the tension of' the spring 50by another'. The sleeve 40",is connected to ,the shell 25 by means ofpins 7 6 projecting .,into'a spiral groove 77 formed in the outeri I,surface of the. shell 25. The effective posi-` tion of the sleevemembers with respect to .40 each other andthe spring is determined bycertain 'graduations formed upon the adi jacent ends of the sleevemembers and indifcated as including a point 78 carried by one I- memberand' coperating with a plurality .4

words, by a rotation of the sleeve 40h in a ofnotches 79 formed in theother. In other clockwise direction, the vpins 76 will cause i i' v thesleeve 40a and the head 51 to-'move downwardlyaccording to the pitch ofthe groove 77 as determined by the extent of such rotation. As indicatedin Fig. 6, Athe sleevel members may be graduated according to anydesired pressure, the illustration indicating, for example, pressuresranging from is carried downwardly to the suppprt or valve seat 43. Acheck valve 80 coperates with a valve seat 62 formed in the support 43.When the check valve 80 is seatedas is the condition normally under thepressure of the fluid l approaching the same ,through the nipple, itprevents the loss of through the vent 65.

i The stem 57leading downwardly from the check valve 80 coperates withand unseats the usual check valve in the tire, and since the movement ofsuch check valve is less than the length of the projecting end of thestein 5 7, the same pressure will cause the,:ch eck valve 80 to unseatupwardly as 'shown in Fig. 8. This immediately provides freepassage forthe air supply downwardly through the tube 8l, filling the tire up tothe desired pressure determined, as before, by thestrengthis'ofTthefspiring 50. When this pressure is reached, the airpressure acting through the chamber 64 and ports 44 will cause theunseating of the blow-off valve and the dissipation of the excesspressure. The'air is free to pass at all times from the tubeSl to thechamber 64 through ports 82.

-It 'will be suiiicient, therefore, that this construction for automaticdelivery of air pressure from a storage tank to a tire will be 0perativeup to a certain pressure and will then automatically blow off, giving asignal tothe operator that the required pressure has been received andpreventing the over.- charging of the tire. 1

-F ig. 9 is a somewhat diagrammatic view indicating a furthermodification and showing a check valve 58 seating upwardly .againstthe`valve seat 62 and preventing the upward flow of air from the tirewhen the required degree of pressure is received therein.;l 'Theblow-off valve 46 is held normallyseated upon a valve seat 43 under theforce of the spring 50, the other end of the spring acting against ahead 5l movable through a pin or finger piece 42 to provide the maximumand minimum pressure points as previously explained. The valve steam 48is connected through a rocking lever 83 to aV valve- 84 'held normallyopen by the spring 50. The main support 43a is bored at 85A to permitthe passage of air downwardly to the tire directly and also in the otherdirection to unseat the blow-off valve when the required pressure isreached, the

valve* 84 closing promptly, however, and stopping the How through thebore or port 85.

It will be seen that in all forms of the invention I provide a safetyblow-off valve to indicate that the required degree of pressure isreached in the tire and automatically providing for the dissipation o-rdischarge of the excessive pressure, and. that in all forms of theinvention I provide a valve seat or supporting structure with which aplurality of'valves cooperate to control the liow of air throughthevsupport in either or both of two directions.

As shown especially in Fig. l, the check valve 58 is locked upon itsstem with respect to the gasket by means of a conical nut whose largestdiameter is approximately equal to, the diameter of the check valve seatbore. Said nut being conical enters freely within the valve seat,bringing thel gasket. directlyagainst the seat in such a manner thatthere is no possibility for the internal pressure to cause the clippingof the gasket and hence the check valve readily unseats when presseddownwardly.

' Referring again to Fig.. it will be 0b` served that since thisstructure is designed to be used as apressure gage or testing device`for tires previously infiated, the air lcap,'vvhen in normal positionas shown, acts to unseat the check valve 58;' hence, by applying ythisstructure directly to a valve nipple,the check valve being open will notobstruct the passage of air from the tire through orpast the blow-offvalve. I wish it to be noted also that the threaded inner --.ends of theblocks 73 are tapered slightly so 2. In a device of thecharacter setforth,

the combination of a valve casing, supporting means fitted therein andprovided with a plurality of passageways for the passage of air inrelatively different directions therethrough, said supporting structurehaving at one end a pair of spaced annular ridges,

certain of said p'assageways communicating with the space between theridges, and a blow-off valve seated normally upon both of said ridgesand closing the space between,

them.

3. In 'a device of the character set forth, the combination of a valveshell, supporting means therein providing a plurality of valve seatscoaxially arranged, a tubular stem extending upwardly from thesupportin, 'l means, means 'to introduce an air supply through saidstem, a check valve coperating with the lower portion of the supportingmeans and opened b v said air supply up to a predetern'iined degree ofpressure, 'said supporting means having upwardly directed ports incommunication with the air supply, a blow-ott valve surrounding saidstem and subject to the action of air through said ports, and a springof predetermined strength surrounding said. stem and acting to normallyhold the blow-oif valve seated but permitting the excess pressure abovethe predetermined degree to unseat the blow-oli:1 Vvalve and bedischarged into the atmosphere, the check valve automatically closingsimultaneously therewith andvretaining the full predetermined amount ofpressure below the same.

l. In a device of the character set forth, the combination of a valvecasing having a tapered interior, supporting means fitted in said taperand providing upper and lower valve seats` said supporting means havinga chamber formed therein and a plurality ot' ports leading upwardly fromsaid chamber, the upper valve seat constituted by a pair of spacedridges between which said ports pass, aV blow-off valve seated upon saidridges and preventing the passage of air from said space up to apredetermined degree of pressure,'and means to -control the iiow of airthrough said supporting means.

A5. In a,device of the character set forth, the, combination of a valvecasing having tapered interior, a valve seat having a similar taperfitted airtight'within the casing, said valve seat having a plurality oflongi- -tudinal ports, a plug likewise fitted. in the lltltl casingagainst one end of the valve seat,

said plug having a chamber communicating with said ports anda downwardlyprojecting tubular lvalve seat, a check valve cooperating with thelatter mentioned valve seat, a blow-off valve coperating with the otherend of theiirst mentioned valve seat,

and means to variably control the action of the blow` off valve upon itsseat according to various predetermined degrees of pressure. 6. In adeviceof the character set forth,l the combination of a valve shell, avalve seat,A

lfitted airtightly therein, means to control the downward movement ofair vthrough-said valve Seat in one direction up to a predetermineddegree of pressure, a'valve seated normally downwardly upon` the valveseat but movable therefrom under the upward force of air through thevalve seat when said degree of pressure is exceeded@ spring acting.

upon the valve at one end, a head slidable in the shell andcoperatingwith the other end of the spring, and a pin extending throughIlll.

the shell into the .head for determining the position'of the head andthe force of the Aspring in predetermined quantities.

7. In a device of the 4character set forth,

' the combination of a valve shell having a reinthe reduced extension'of the ,shell,-a` .spring of predetermined strength acting between t-hehead and the valve, a shell having a slot adjacent the head, apinextending' through the slot and fitted in the head, and

' a sleeve fitted upon the shell extension and adjustably determiningthe position and effectof the spring. a

8. In a device of the character -set forth,

the combination of'a valve shell, means with'- p able blocks fitted insaid body andhaving gripping means ontheir inner ends and lonngitudinally arranged guide' pins engaging' in the shell to control thepassage of air supply downwardly therethrough up to a'predetermined'degree of pressure in the tire, a blow-off valve acting in the otherdirection automatically to dischargepressure above the predeterminedAdegree aforesaid, an attachment bodyseciired to the shell and providedwith recesses, a pair of radially mov"` thel recesses of the body, and athimble slid able upon the body to force the blocks d irectly intoengagement with the tire nipple;

9. In a device of the character setforth, shell, a valve seat in theshell and having va central opening, an annular groove in one face andports extending through the same and opening into the groove, a slidingand spring .pressed blow-o valve for engaging Isaid seat, a second valveseat adjacent the first seat and having van 4opening in alinement 'withthe central opening of the irst seat and va chamber in one yface andinto which open the ports of the first seat, and a check for the secondseat and having a stem extending through the said valve seats.

10.V In a device of the character set forth, a shell, a valve seat inthe shell and having a central tn bular stem, an annular groove in `oneface and ports extending through the same and opening into the groove, asliding .and `spring pressed blow-off valve mounted on the tubular stem,a second 4valve seat adjacent tlie first valve seat and having a centralopening and a chamber `in one face around said opening, and a checkvalve for the second seat and having a stem extending 1 through theopening of the second seat into the tubular stem of the first seat.

1l. In a device of the character set forth, a shell having a port in itsside, an adjustable headin the shell, a valve seat in the shell andbetween which and the head the port is lr cated, lsaid seat having acentral tubular stem and an annular groove in one face and portsextending through the same and open ing'into the groove,a blow-off valvemount ed to slide on the stem of the said seat, a springsurroundingithesaid tubular stein between the head and valve, a secondvalve seat engaging the first valvc and seat and having a chamber in itsface next to the first seat and provided with a tubular projection onits other face, and a check valve engaging the said tubular projectionand having a.l stem extendingthrough the same into the tubular stem ofthe first valve seat.

1 2, In a device of the character set forth, a shell having a bayonetlslot, a head in the shell, a sleeve slidable on the shell, a pin securedtothe sleeve and head, said pin working in the slot of the shell, avalve seat in the shell and havinga tubular stem extending through thehead and having its projecting end threaded, a nut on the said threadedend,-

a, blow-off valve mounted to slide on the valveseat, and -a springsurrounding the stem of the valve seat between said Seat and the head.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

SAMUEL KAHN.

Witnesses:

GEOS Il. Biennali, PHILIP D; RoLLHAUs.

